A pair of disabled paddlers are preparing for an adventure of a lifetime.
Din Ruttelynck (partially visually impaired) and Sarah Doherty (amputee) were asked recently to represent Canada in the disabled exhibition races set for March 21 to 25 at the 2006 World Sprint Races in New Zealand.
The duo are the only disabled athletes on the Canadian team. This adaptive event is to support the bid for outrigger racing (OC-6) as a Para Olympic sport in the 2012 Games.
Currently the pair is busy fundraising for the trip, which will cost $1,800 per person. They are supporting themselves up to $1,300 and were able to get time off work without pay. So far, $1,400 has been raised. Last week, Gibsons council voted to fund $400 towards the trip. Sechelt council has approved up to $2,200 and Doherty will also be making presentations to the Sechelt Indian Band and Rotary.
"The community has just been fantastic. We want to thank everyone for their support," said Doherty. "This is a great opportunity to support the vision of adaptive outrigger paddling."
Doherty was contacted four weeks ago by the head coach from Team USA about coming to the competition.
"Team Canada, due to funding, is not sending a disabled team," said Doherty. "We were asked to compete and race with Team Italy. I didn't think it would be possible to be ready in time."
Doherty and Ruttelynck have been friends and paddling partners for more than seven years. Doherty admits her friend's enthusiasm and drive convinced her they could do it.
"This is a chance to be a part of Team Canada and represent Canada and the Sunshine Coast," Doherty said. "It's something we just couldn't pass up."
The pair will paddle with Italy, and could also paddle for Team Canada.
"We're signed up and registered. If someone gets hurt or sick, we could step in and paddle with the regular team," Doherty said. "Team Canada has been fantastic. We're getting full uniforms and we'll get to march right alongside everyone else during the opening ceremonies."
Ruttelynck and Doherty will not be travelling to New Zealand alone.
The Sunshine Coast Independent Women's Va'a team will also be going to compete.
Coast Reporter told the story of this group of paddlers late last year.
The Sunshine Coast Women's Va'a crew will be one of the only women's open crews paddling for Canada. They differ from other crews from Canada, as they are paddling with crew members all from the same area, whereas other paddlers for Canada may not get to crew together until one week before the races in New Zealand. There are seven women on the crew, all of whom come from various paddling backgrounds. The members of this team include: Seru Sanday, Susan Blair, Tanya Clark, Mary Jeffries, Charly Mithrush, Donna Stewart and Tara Sullivan.
The Sprint Champion-ships are held every two years at a different location. The event boasts some 4,000 paddlers from Asia, Europe, North America, South America, Africa, Australia and the South Pacific. There are five days of racing in the V1, V6 and V12, with men, women, youth and adaptive paddlers racing. The main difference here is that Va'a paddling has no rudder involved, which is traditional outrigger paddling. Unlike the more popular westernized OC-1 (outrigger canoe) Va'a paddling requires more highly skilled paddlers. The International Va'a Federation (IVF), which governs outrigger canoeing internationally, has tried to maintain traditional outrigger canoeing by making this event exclusively for rudderless paddling.
"We've been training hard, through rain, snow, sleet, fog and, on the odd day, sun," said Sanday. "The crew has made enormous improvements in their overall performance. As with any good team, we've had obstacles we've had to face head on and have travelled through peaks and valleys. The past six months have allowed our team to grow mentally, physically and spiritually. We are centred and focused on thewave ahead.
"It's great that there are two adaptive paddlers going to the World Sprints. This will be the second time for the host country of the World Sprints to recognize and organize disabled paddling, as the International Va'a Federation doesn't recognize disabled paddlers and it is up to the host country to put on theexhibition race. "We certainly hope that in the future the IVF will include disabled paddlers in the regular World Sprint Races and medal ceremonies."
Donna Harrison is another paddler from the Coast heading to New Zealand.
Harrison started paddling five years ago, first competing in the Howe Sound iron corporate races and then moving into long distance competitive racing. She will compete as a senior master (45 to 55 years old).
"A year ago, I met a woman in Maui who suggested I try out for them, and the idea was planted," said Harrison. "If you want something to happen, just do it. Once I decided I was going, I started to make the necessary changes in my life for it to happen. The best part of this whole experience so far is the journey - discovering that I am an athlete. Until five years ago I had never participated in any sport. I wasn't even physically active. Never say never."
Anyone interested in being an independent paddler can email Edward or Seru Sanday at [email protected] or call 604-886-4580. You can also contact Sanday to inquire about sponsorship for their team. For Doherty, contact her at 604-740-7596 or email [email protected].
